Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14 24mm F 2 8G ED Review | 54 Data compared

The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S is identified by Ken Rockwell as an "optical statement" delivering unprecedented sharpness and minimal distortion for ultra-wide, rectilinear images, setting a high standard for image quality. While praised for its superior performance, pros include, the lens is very heavy (1,000g) and features a bulbous front element that prevents standard filter use. Rockwell notes the lens lacks an aperture ring and is designed for modern cameras, making it unsuitable for some older film bodies. He concludes it is a must-have for professionals, but suggests lighter alternatives like the 16-35mm VR or the newer Z-mount version for casual users.

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED as a robust, high-performance optic delivering excellent sharpness, fast autofocus, and effective flare reduction. Pros include its versatile, extreme wide-angle capability and durable, premium construction, making it ideal for professionals. Conversely, the lens suffers from notable barrel distortion at 14mm, which can be corrected in post-processing, and it cannot accept standard screw-in filters due to its bulbous front element. Additionally, the review notes a high price point, positioning it as a significant investment for specialized, high-end photography.

The Opticallimits review of the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8 G ED N highlights it as an exceptional full-frame ultra-wide zoom lens tested on an APS-C DSLR. The lens delivers unprecedented, peak sharpness wide-open at f/2.8, particularly at the 14mm focal length, with very minimal resolution loss at the borders and extreme corners. Additionally, it provides highly controlled lateral chromatic aberrations (averaging around 1 pixel at the borders) and outstandingly low barrel distortion (just 1.4% at 14mm, which becomes negligible at 18mm and 24mm). Thanks to the sweet-spot advantage of utilizing a full-frame lens on a crop sensor, real-world vignetting is also virtually non-existent at f/4. Despite its stellar optical performance, the review identifies a notable weakness in its handling of flare. When shooting directly into the sun or dealing with stray light from the side, the lens produces noticeable glare rings and rainbow-like ghosting artifacts. The reviewer attributes this vulnerability to the lens's highly protruding, bulb-style front element, which easily "collects" streaking side light. Ultimately, while the lens showcases stunning resolution and structural corrections that easily exceed standard sensor capabilities,...

The OpticalLimits (formerly PhotoZone) review highlights the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED as a highly reputable, professional-grade, ultra-wide zoom lens that serves as an industry reference for resolution. Built with a rugged metal alloy barrel, dust and moisture sealing, and an internal focusing system, the lens delivers fast and near-silent autofocus thanks to its Silent Wave Motor. Its optical design consists of 14 elements in 11 groups—including two ED elements, three aspherical elements, and a Nano Crystal Coat—which collectively allow it to deliver stunning center-to-corner sharpness that famously beats out competing ultra-wide prime lenses. However, the review points out several significant design compromises and physical drawbacks. Weighing in at approximately 1 kilogram, it stands as the heaviest ultra-wide zoom lens in its class, which is caused by a massive, bulb-style protruding front element. This unique optical structure leaves the front glass highly vulnerable to damage, makes it impossible to screw on standard front filters, and forces users to rely on bulky, heavy, and expensive square third-party filter systems. Furthermore, because it is a G-type lens, it lacks a physical aperture...

The ePHOTOzine review highlights the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED NIKKOR as a professional-grade optic, praising its exceptional resolution, uniform corner-to-corner sharpness that peaks at f/4, and robust, weather-sealed build. The lens offers excellent resistance to flare and ghosting via Nano Crystal coatings and delivers outstanding performance that often exceeds that of fixed focal length primes in the same range. However, the lens's design introduces limitations, specifically a bulbous, fixed lens hood that prevents the use of standard screw-on filters, requiring specialized, bulky filter holders. Furthermore, it exhibits strong diffraction at f/22 and noticeable corner vignetting when used at f/2.8, particularly on full-frame sensors.

In his gear review, photographer Sam Hurd highly praises the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G AF-S lens, calling it a "landmark" in Nikon's collection. The chief pros highlighted in the review include its physics-defying sharpness across the entire zoom range, even when shot wide open. He commends its professional, all-metal build quality, noting that it survived a hard drop on the ground and continued to perform like new. Furthermore, Hurd praises its fast autofocus, smooth mechanical handling, and its ability to render appealing bokeh when positioned close to a subject. He concludes that it is unmatched for landscapes, interior architecture, and creative reception photography, making spaces look exceptionally large and impressive. Conversely, Hurd details notable cons regarding the lens's physical design and optical limitations. The prominent, bulbous front element is a major drawback, as it prevents the use of standard protective lens filters and requires specialty equipment for Neutral Density (ND) filters—a hurdle Hurd personally bypassed by holding 4x6 filters in front of the lens by hand. Additionally, the lens is somewhat front-heavy when mounted on cameras like the Nikon D3s. Optically,...

The Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is a high-performance ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for Nikon’s FX full-frame DSLRs, though it can also be used on DX bodies. Optically, the lens is highly praised for its exceptional sharpness, proving excellent at all apertures at 14mm. Corner sharpness is a standout pro, significantly outperforming older wide-angle lenses like the 17-35mm. The build quality features built-in dust and moisture protection, and its massive, protruding front element proves surprisingly durable against direct impacts from field dirt. Furthermore, it incorporates advanced Nano and Super Integrated Coatings to minimize internal reflections, alongside a quick autofocus system. On the downside, the lens is exceptionally heavy and bulky, weighing over two pounds (969g) with a large 5-inch front diameter, making it front-heavy on smaller camera bodies. Its prominent design means it lacks standard filter threads, meaning users cannot use typical polarizers or neutral density filters without investing in massive, expensive 150mm third-party filter holders. Additional cons include noticeable barrel distortion (over 1%) and high vignetting at 14mm, distinct field curvature that requires careful focus cursor placement, and a slight...

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is a highly-regarded ultra-wide-angle lens for F-mount, offering exceptional sharpness across the frame and excellent image quality at f/2.8 for landscape and architecture photography. Featuring a robust, weather-sealed construction and fast Silent Wave Motor (SWM) autofocus, it has established itself as a durable, professional-grade tool since its 2007 release. However, the lens is heavy (approx. 1,000 grams) and features a bulbous, protruding front element that prohibits standard screw-on filters, requiring expensive, bulky filter holders. It is also susceptible to flare in high-contrast, backlit situations and is considered a legacy option compared to lighter, filter-capable mirrorless alternatives. For a comprehensive overview, read the Cameralabs Review.

The Photography Life review defines the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G as a legendary, ruggedly built lens offering exceptional center/mid-frame sharpness, great contrast, and fast, accurate autofocus, particularly excelling at f/5.6. Despite these strengths, the review notes significant drawbacks when used on modern sensors, including a noticeable focus shift when stopping down, field curvature, soft corners at 24mm f/2.8, heavy weight, and the inability to use standard screw-on filters due to the bulbous front element. For the full, detailed review, visit Photography Life.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED is an outstanding ultra-wide rectilinear zoom lens that delivers high-resolution image quality, earning a top DxOMark score of 28 when tested on a Nikon D800. Its primary strengths include exceptional edge-to-edge sharpness that outperforms its rivals, highly consistent light transmission, and remarkably low distortion averaging just 0.4%. Additionally, the lens features a fast, constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, an expansive 104-degree horizontal angle of view, advanced Nano Crystal coat technology, and well-controlled lateral chromatic aberration compared to older Nikon models. On the downside, the lens suffers from high vignetting at its widest focal length, measuring a significant -2.4EV wide-open at 14mm. It also exhibits higher levels of chromatic aberration between 14mm and 16mm, creating a noticeable concentric ring around the center of the image field during testing. Furthermore, its massive, convex front element prevents the use of standard front filters, making alternative options like the Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 or 16-35mm f/4 VR more appealing to some landscape photographers who prioritize filter compatibility and lower weight. Finally, with a price tag of around $1,995, it...